Kerry mum on wind farm, casinos in Massachusetts

John Kerry says he is a staunch advocate for wind energy, but insists that it is too early to take a position for or against a proposed wind farm in Nantucket Sound.

The junior U.S. senator from Massachusetts also won't take a position on whether casino gambling should be legalized in the Bay State.

And the 64-year-old Kerry, first elected to the Senate in 1984, doesn't want to directly respond to criticism from his growing field of opponents as he seeks a fifth six-year term.

While the state's senior U.S. senator, Edward Kennedy, is a vocal opponent of the plan to put 130 turbines in the waters off Cape Cod, Kerry said he is waiting for the federal government to develop a system for locating wind farms.

I am a powerful advocate for wind power in America, Kerry told the Patriot Ledger editorial board on Monday. But I'm also an advocate for orderly governance and a process by which we protect the environment and understand what we're doing.

The project has been before federal regulators since 2001, and the federal Minerals Management Service gave the plan a key approval earlier this month.

Kerry also sidestepped the ongoing debate on Beacon Hill over casino gambling, saying it's up to state policymakers to decide.

It's entirely a local decision, and if the state wants to do it, the state should make its decision and go ahead and do it, Kerry said. It's not a federal decision.

Kerry, a Democrat, had little to say about Dracut farmer Jim Ogonowski becoming the second Republican in the race for his $165,200-a-year job. Kerry also faces a challenger in the Democratic primary.

Ogonowski, the brother of an airline pilot killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, lost a bid for a congressional seat against Niki Tsongas in October.

I'll just continue to deliver and fight for the people here in this state, Kerry said. I'll let my record speak for itself.

Kerry hasn't faced a serious challenger to his Senate seat since he fought off former Republican Gov. William Weld in 1996. The state GOP had no candidate against Kerry in 2002.

Kerry said foul play is suspected in the death of Ciara Durkin, 30, a National Guard corporal from Quincy who was found dead with a single gunshot wound to the head at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in September. Kerry has been working with military officials to speed up the investigation into Durkin's death.

They are very skeptical, to say the least, about any potential of enemy fire, and they have so informed the family, Kerry said about the ongoing military investigation.

Kerry said gun control opponents have so far successfully held up the confirmation of Abington resident Michael Sullivan as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Critics say the federal agency frequently overlooks gun ownership rights.

He has a sensible position, and some of them don't, Kerry said about Sullivan, a Republican appointed to the post in August 2006 by President Bush. I think Mike is terrifically qualified and has been doing the job.

Kerry said his $1 million wager with Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens over Kerry's war record and allegations by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth may not be settled.